REDMOND, Wash., June 3, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of Microsoft® Office v. X Service Release 1 (Office v. X SR 1) and MSN® Messenger 3.0 for Mac. The performance improvements, updates, new features and fixes featured across the entire suite of Office v. X SR 1 applications — including Word X, Excel X, PowerPoint® X and Entourage™
X — make them must-have downloads for all users of Office v. X who want the best and most seamless computing experience possible. MSN Messenger 3.0 for Mac is a greatly improved version of Microsoft’s popular instant messaging application developed for Mac OS X, with several new features and improved reliability and performance. Also announced today, Microsoft will provide, in a separate but related offering, a component to enable synchronization between Palm operating system-based handheld devices and Entourage X as a free* download starting July 15.
In addition to numerous fixes and improvements, Office v. X SR 1 includes new features that improve users’ overall experience with Office v. X by making it more compatible and easier to use. Improvements include better readability of on-screen text in all the Office v. X applications through Quartz text smoothing (a new feature available for Mac OS X 10.1.5 or higher). The improvements enable Excel X users to easily import data hosted on a FileMaker Server through FileMaker Server integration and refresh database queries made in Excel 98 through Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) integration, and enable users to paste their own customized images on toolbar buttons through Button face customization.
“Microsoft is committed to providing the most seamless experience possible with the Office v. X Service Release 1, particularly in terms of compatibility and ease of use,”
said Kevin Browne, general manager of the Macintosh Business Unit at Microsoft.
“To that end, we have made more than 1,500 improvements, updates, fixes and new features in SR 1 that make Office v. X faster, more stable and more reliable than ever. With great new features like Quartz text smoothing, FileMaker and ODBC, which help Office v. X connect with Mac OS X and other applications more seamlessly, users will see why downloading SR 1 from the Mactopia Web site is so important.”
Delivering on the Macintosh Business Unit’s promise to continue delivering powerful Mac OS X applications, MSN Messenger 3.0 for Mac provides users with a number of improved communications and contact management features that enable a more enhanced and seamless messaging experience on Apple Computer Inc.’s operating system. Designed to behave and look like the Mac OS X user interface, MSN Messenger 3.0 for Mac also offers new features such as the ability to transfer files to people in the user’s Buddy List, organize contacts in easy-to-find groups, and resize toolbars and icons, as well as improved emoticon support. Available for Mac OS X 10.1 and later, MSN Messenger 3.0 for Mac is the most stable, reliable and Mac OS-supportive version of the messaging application created yet.
Pricing and Availability
Office v. X for Mac SR 1 and MSN Messenger 3.0 for Mac are now available as free downloads from http://www.microsoft.com/mac/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
* Connect-time charges may apply.
Microsoft, MSN, PowerPoint and Entourage are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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